Prophetic Generosity

Azhaan Mohammed

وَأَنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوَاْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Spend in the cause of Allah and do not let your own hands throw you into destruction [by withholding]. And do good, for Allah certainly loves the good-doers.
(Quran 2:195)

We delve into the essence of generosity. The teachings of our Prophet ﷺ that guide us towards the path of selflessness and compassion. For in giving of ourselves, we receive the greatest reward, and in spreading love and kindness, we find true fulfillment. In this chapter, we will explore the laws and principles of generosity in Islam, from the simple act of smiling at someone to the act of giving away one’s wealth to the poor.

A man provides, helps, and serves his community whether they seek his aid or not, similar to a leader who is in service to his people. A true man of authority is not he who terrifies and commands his adherents with brutality. Rather he is one who responds to both the goodness and the evil of society with mercy. Not only will this push his adherents to view him with respectful and trusting eyes, but it may also cause his enemies to overturn their harsh feeling toward him. Imam Ali رضي الله عنه said, “The kindness of a person and his generosity may make him beloved to his adversaries.”¹
A man must understand that the powerful one isn’t demanding, but rather giving. And when you study the life of our Rasool ﷺ, you’ll find precisely that. There is hardly a recorded incident when he ﷺ refused aid to anyone seeking. Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه said, “It never happened that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked for anything and said, ‘No.’”²
Adding on this, Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali رضي الله عنه narrated, “If someone asked him ﷺ for something he needed, he would not send him away without what he had requested, or at least some comforting words. His munificence and his good nature encompassed people such that he became a father to them, and they became truly equal in his presence.”³
And Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه said, “The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of all the people, and he ﷺ used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him ﷺ every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him ﷺ. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ then used to be more generous than the fast wind.”⁴
Even when he ﷺ would be given something, he’d ask ﷺ whether that was a gift, or given in charity. If it were given as a gift, he’d keep it ﷺ and share it with those around him ﷺ if possible. But if the offering were meant as charity for him ﷺ, then he ﷺ would fully distribute it amongst the people. Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه said, “Whenever a meal was brought to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, he ﷺ would ask whether it was a gift or Sadaqa (something given in charity). If he ﷺ was told that it was Sadaqa, he ﷺ would tell his companions to eat it, but if it was a gift, he ﷺ would hurry to share it with them.”⁵

Science Behind Selflessness:
In today’s fast-paced world, the significance of selflessness tends to go unnoticed by many. However, as a man seeking personal growth, it’s crucial to understand the scientific basis behind this practice which Rasulullah ﷺ placed immense importance on – indicating a deeper purpose.
Fortunately, in our modern era, we are blessed with insights that reveal the multitude of health benefits associated with acts of generosity, impacting our mental and physical well-being. Many studies show that genuine acts of kindness, driven by pure goodness, can not only improve your health, but can also extend your lifespan.
According to Carolyn Gregoire, based on studies conducted by the University of Basel, “Helping and supporting others may be key to living a longer and healthier life.” ⁶Their conclusion was mainly sourced from both direct and indirect effects that being generous has on your neural and hormonal systems. According to the study, “The neural and hormonal system that is activated in the process of caregiving represents a proximate mechanism that may reduce human mortality.”⁷

1. Al-Tamimi, Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim, p.153, Dawud Walid: Futuwwah ↩︎
2. Muslim, Sahih Muslim, Hadith 5726 ↩︎
3. Ash-Shama’il Al-Muhammadiyah 335 ↩︎
4. Sahih al-Bukhari 3554 – Book 61, Hadith 63 ↩︎
5. Sahih al-Bukhari 2576 – Book 51, Hadith 11 ↩︎
6. Carolyn Gregoire: Helping Others Is The Key To Longevity, Study Finds ↩︎
7. Sonja Hilbrand, David A. Coall, Denis Gerstorf, Ralph Hertwig: Caregiving within and beyond the family is associated with lower mortality for the caregiver ↩︎